Paediatric melanoma - seeing consultant soon

Hi  and welcome to the Online Community, although I am so sorry to see the circumstance that brought you here and so sorry to hear about the issues your daughter is having. 

Being a granddad to 4 under 6 years old girls - I get your concern. But at the same time I have lost count of the "what if's?" and 'is it?" times we have had with the girls.

I am Mike Thehighlander and I help out on the Community. On my long journey I found the best way to navigate the various health challenges was by talking with people who are on the same journey.

I see that you have joined a few groups and posted already - well done and I am sure that the folks will get back to you.

My cancer journey was rather different, but in saying that my rare Lymphoma was a skin Lymphoma so I know Dermatology very well as I was first diagnosed over 20 years ago and treated by Dermatology for over 16 years.

I am assuming that your daughter is going to see a Dermatologist as these are the folks than can get to the bottom of what this may or may not be.

Try and not over think this and please stay away from Dr Google as this will feed you lots of wrong and unhelpful information and as a result feed your stress and anxiety. You can only deal with facts and you will only get this at your appointment.

You may also find our various Macmillan Support Line Services on 0808 808 00 00 to be helpful as you can talk to a friendly person that can help in lots of ways.

We also have our 'Ask an Expert' section where you can talk with medical experts - but they can not diagnoses, just give you direction.

All the best. 

Thanks Mike I really appreciate you taking the time to reply and I'm sorry to hear of your own struggles. You're quite right google is not my friend but the temptation to go down the rabbit hole there is hard to resist. We're very fortunate in that my Mum has offered to pay for an initial private consultation as due to an error when the referral was made we were initially given at 7 week wait.

Fingers crossed for some great news this time next week. 

Thanks again

Good that the appointment is next week as this reduces the stress time.

Dr Google is a very dangerous thing when it comes to medical issues.

I have a fatty lump on my neck, I know its not a problem due to the check ups and treatments I have had over the years. But I thought I would have a look at what Dr Google had to say. So I put in 'Lump on my neck' and after following the top 3-4 links I had Lymphoma and 6 months to live, the next click took me to an advert for an undertakers - NOT

Stick to the facts and remember to have a list of questions with you so you don't leave thinking "I wish I had asked....."

All the best for next week

Thank you that's great advice - I need to work on a list but try and avoid googling to help me compile it! Finding it v difficult to locate people who've been through this, there's a handful of posts here but not updated. I presume that means they had good news which is encouraging. 

Thanks again

Hi  and a second welcome to the online community

I can understand how worried you must feel right now but you've done the right thing to join this community. 

Could I suggest that you start a new post in the melanoma group as you might connect with people that way. I can see that you've posted a reply to someone whose child was being investigated for a possible melanoma back in 2017 but they may no longer be in this group, especially as they only posted once, and so won't see your question.

Another good reason for starting your own post is that lots of people join a group but never post, or fill in their profile, so there could be people in the melanoma group in the same position as you who will reply when you post.

I look after the melanoma group, having been diagnosed myself, two years ago so I hope to see you in there later.

x

That's great advice thank you i'll do just that now. Thanks again xx